MMA

Dana White says a Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather rematch in the UFC is MORE likely than Conor vs. Nate Diaz 3 ... but ex-UFC star Brendan Schaub is calling BS.

We got Brendan -- an analyst on the MayMac media tour -- to break down what's next for the biggest names in fighting, starting with the rumors that Floyd might step inside the Octagon.

"I don't see Floyd doing that with his ego and his legacy -- it'd be a terrible idea," Schaub told TMZ Sports. "Only one of those guys is gonna fight again, and that's Conor McGregor."

So ... what's next for McGregor?

"Conor's waiting to see what happens with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson ... he's gonna see who wins and how it goes and he'll decide either that, or Nate Diaz."

But no matter which fight Conor takes first -- "I can guarantee you he fights Nate Diaz at some point."

Here's video of Sugar Ray Leonard and Bruce Buffer giving daps at LAX ... then giving waaay different takes on how Floyd Mayweather would do against Conor McGregor in the UFC!

The meet-up happened courtesy of our photog -- who spotted the 2 legends randomly crossing paths. (Only in L.A., right??)

Sugar, of course, wasn't about to throw his fellow pugilist under the bus -- saying Floyd's "always" got a shot.

Bruce, on the other hand, was happy to -- telling us why it'd be "a very quick night" for Mayweather inside the Octagon.

UFC stars claim they're gonna "kill" their opponents all the time ... but "Platinum" Mike Perry says he's the only guy who actually could -- and he's dead serious.

"People freak out when I go on social media and say, 'I'm gonna kill you' ... because they believe what I say," Platinum told TMZ Sports.

"They get upset when I say it because they think it might be a reality."

All of Mike's 11 wins have come by KO -- 12 if you count his New Year's Eve street fight -- so we ain't gonna second-guess him.

Perry says that's the plan for when he fights Max Griffin at UFC Fight Night Orlando this weekend ... saying Max might be in for "an early retirement" after they're done.

Nate Diaz ain't even close to a UFC comeback -- so says Dana White, who tells TMZ Sports it's clear to him that Nate "doesn't wanna fight."

Dana's so sure ... he says it's MORE likely we see Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather inside the Octagon than a trilogy fight between Conor and Nate!!

"We've been hitting him up since the last time he fought [UFC 202], offering him fights, and he's not interested in fighting," White told us earlier this week.

FYI, the UFC honcho also told us he's talked with Floyd's camp, but isn't "in active negotiations."

One guy who Dana says IS interested in throwing down right now -- Nate's older brother, Nick Diaz, who hasn't fought in over 3 years!!!

There's more -- Dana confirmed who Tyron Woodley's next title challenger is gonna be (and if ya haven't already guessed ... it ain't Nate).

If Tekashi69 wants more static in the streets, dude's gotta learn how to REALLY fight -- because UFC champ Tyron Woodley says the brawl at LAX was straight-up "embarrassing."

Woodley broke down the fight on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- with special guest Raquel ... a self-described "International Hood Captain" ... and they're telling everyone why Tekashi should quit brawling while he's ahead.

There's more ... Tyron -- a proud gun owner -- also gets into it with Evan about why the government better not come for his AR-15. Does he have a point?

Also, Tyron reveals the CRAZY monster truck stunt he pulled at the Daytona 500 -- and why he almost got arrested after the race!

Floyd Mayweather rolled out $2 MILLION in cars, jewelry and cash to dominate the Rodeo Drive shopping scene in Bev Hills ... and gave TMZ Sports a private tour of his new toys.

First off, our guy tried like hell to press Floyd on the possible Conor McGregor rematch -- but the dude bobbed and weaved like ... well, like he's Floyd Mayweather.

Instead, Floyd bragged about his upcoming 41st birthday celebration -- and showed us the new $600,000 Rolls-Royce and $1.3 MILLION Bugatti he's using to drive him around L.A.

Oh, he also bought a new $100,000 Rolex and showed off about $100,000 (maybe more?) in cash he had on him the entire time.

The video is an embarrassment of riches -- so, naturally, we had to ask what's next for the boxer?

What he says actually makes a lot of sense ...

Dana White says he and Jon Jones are finally back on speaking terms after Jones' failed steroid tests ... and he's revealing what Jon told him, including his thoughts on a comeback.

Remember ... Jones failed two separate drug tests administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency -- one before he was supposed to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, and one after he fought Cormier at UFC 214.

Naturally, Dana was pissed ... telling the guys on "TMZ Sports" they still hadn't spoken since the first time Jon popped -- way back in July, 2016.

But now, it seems the UFC honcho and former pound-for-pound king are turning over a new leaf ... 'cause they caught up, and Jon told Dana he "absolutely wants to come back."

As for the when ... White says that's up to USADA, who still hasn't made a decision on how long Jones will be banned (he's facing up to 4 years).

In the meantime, Dana says Jon's "just focusing on training" and "looking to positive things" in his life.

The UFC prez also weighed in on Anderson Silva telling us "contaminated supplements" are to blame for his most recent drug-test failure ... and he didn't exactly sound convinced.

Conor McGregor has been ducking Frankie Edgar for years and never REALLY wanted to fight him at UFC 222 in March ... this according to Frankie's manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

And by the way ... that's putting it mildly.

Ali just WENT OFF on Conor -- comparing him to a prostitute and guaranteeing Frankie would "Beat the sh*t out of him and the entire nation of Ireland."

It's all over Conor's new comments in which the Irish superstar claimed he offered to step in and fight Frankie at UFC 222 on March 3 but the UFC shut it down claiming there wasn't enough time to promote it properly.

Ali says if Conor was serious about fighting Frankie -- he's had PLENTY of time to come to terms on a deal over the years. Instead, Ali says, "He's scared."

Conor McGregor says he's ALREADY reached out to the UFC to fight in the Octagon again -- insisting, "I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out."

McGregor has seemingly just responded to Dana White's comments to TMZ Sports ... in which White said he didn't know if Conor would ever fight again because he's got sooo much money now.

"I am fighting again. Period," Conor says.

"I am the best at this. I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn't enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need."

"I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game. Please respect the insane amount of work outside the fight game that I have put in."

"On top of the fighting. I am here. It is on them to come and get me. Because I am here. Yours sincerely, The Champ Champ."

UFC 222 is scheduled for March 3 in Vegas. Max Holloway pulled out of the main event against Edgar on February 3 after suffering an injury.

It's official ... Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely stripping Conor McGregor's lightweight title, so Khabib and Tony Ferguson can fight for the "real" belt.

So, what does that mean for a possible Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor rematch?

Don't worry ... we talked about that, too.

"The only way a rematch makes sense in that fight is in the UFC," White says. He also confirms the two sides are talking.

White says he doesn't think Floyd needs the money -- but if he's serious about an MMA fight against one of the baddest combat sports athletes on the planet ... "he absolutely should be worried about his skills."

White insists there is NO deal done right now -- but says, "Anything is possible."

As for Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson ... Dana says Conor understands that he must strip the belt so the two guys can fight for the title.

He hopes Conor returns to the octagon in August or Sept. to fight the winner of that match.

Chuck Liddell says he's got legit evidence his health ain't an issue, so if Tito Ortiz wants it like he claims, he can absolutely get it!!

The Iceman fired back at Ortiz when we got him out in Calabasas, telling TMZ Sports he'd be "shocked" if UFC doctors didn't clear him for an Octagon return ... to smash Tito for the 3rd time in his career.

Chuck's proof -- he recently set out to scale a 20,000-FOOT mountain for a YouTube Red special ... and the 48-year-old says their docs gave him a clean bill of health for the grueling climb.

Guessing their medical tests are a little different ... but Chuck told us the UFC's cleared fighters in way worse shape than him, anyway.

So, Liddell says he's praying Tito puts pen to paper ... but explains why he has real doubts Ortiz will do it.

UFC legend Anderson Silva is still adamant he never knowingly used steroids -- but says if the positive test results are accurate, the only explanation is "contaminated supplements."

Silva tested positive for two banned substances in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug test conducted back in October. Silva is now facing a maximum 4-year suspension from fighting.

But, "The Spider" tells TMZ Sports he would NEVER knowingly juice up -- saying it would be a "stupid" thing to do at the tail end of his career.

His explanation -- "Maybe the supplements I'm using are contaminated."

Silva says his lawyers are still fighting to clear his name -- and he's confident he'll fight again.

In fact, he's still focused on getting a fight with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.

And get this ... if 42-year-old Silva IS banned for 4 years -- he does NOT plan on retiring ... insisting he'll still take a fight even in his late 40s because he loves the sport so much.

Derrick Lewis is a VERY happy man after getting the W at UFC Fight Night in Austin -- 'cause he won ... but mostly 'cause his wife says she's ending his booty ban!!

The bad news -- we talked to Derrick and April the day after the fight ... and they told us he's too injured to get it on.

"The ban is over. I've been trying to get him all day, but he's tired," April told TMZ Sports.

"I don't got it in me, man -- I'm hurtin' ... I can't put in a half-assed performance, lay there like a starfish," Derrick added.

Lewis ain't lying -- showing us a serious injury he sustained early on vs. Marcin Tybura. It looks bad.

But, the Black Beast says he wants another fight soon ... and he's callin' out the scariest dude in the heavyweight division!

Tito Ortiz is doubling down on his Chuck Liddell call-out ... telling TMZ Sports straight-up that he's down for a 3rd fight with the Iceman!

"I don't need to fight, but if Chuck needs to ... I'll be a good friend like he was once and give him a payday," Ortiz said ... adding that ONLY Chuck could pull him outta retirement.

The bad news -- Tito says he proposed Ortiz vs. Liddell 3 to a UFC matchmaker on New Year's ... and got shot down HARD 'cause they're worried about Chuck's health.

"He kinda looked at me and laughed and said, 'Chuck couldn't fight again! He's been knocked out unconscious 5 times! I guarantee you the doctor won't give him a license."

But that ain't stoppin' Chuck -- who tells us he's still training his ass off.

Here's UFC killer Cat Zingano SLAYING a black spaghetti string bikini -- proving she's coming back to the cage jacked and ready to rock at UFC 222.

"Strong. Motivated. Focused. Mean. Ready," Zingano captioned the photo ... a selfie with inspirational messages scribbled across her mirror.

But this ain't just any mirror selfie -- it speaks volumes for Cat, a single mom who lost her husband to suicide in 2014. Since then, she's struggled with staying in shape and finding the motivation to fight.

Now, after nearly 20 months off, it's pretty clear she's ready to get after it again.

Moment of honesty from Floyd Mayweather?

The leader of The Money Team was leaving the NBA All-Star Game in L.A. surrounded by TMT crew when we asked about Conor McGregor's new statement ... that Floyd has ended MMA fight negotiations.

Floyd told us straight-up, "I don't know" -- weird considering he's been on a P.R. offensive to drive up interest in a potential Conor vs. Floyd UFC fight. Remember the MMA cage videos he's made?

Plus, Floyd's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., recently said he believes Floyd will take an MMA fight.